St Helens v Warrington: The staggering amount of players sidelined as teams announced
Up to 13 players will be forced to watch from the sidelines as St Helens face Warrington at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Paul Wellens will be without the majority of his pack for the Round 10 clash, including England international Alex Walmsley, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since the side’s win over Wakefield in March.
Fellow prop forward Agnatius Paasi also continues to be sidelined through injury.
Having missed three games due to a shoulder injury, Jake Wingfield returned to action against Hull KR at Craven Park, only to suffer a head knock in the 26-14 defeat.
“It’s really unfortunate for Jake,” head coach Wellens said. “We were very keen to get him back, particularly because of the area we are missing players is our middles. But he misses this week.”
Back-rower Curtis Sironen continues to be sidelined with a hamstring issue, with Wellens hoping to have the Australian back after the international break as England face France at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Sione Mata’utia also remains in the treatment room following his sickening head knock during the side’s 14-6 Good Friday defeat to Wigan.
Wellens added: “What we’re missing at the moment is what we’d call more potent ball carriers, Agnatius, Alex, Sione, Curtis, those types of players who can get you on the front foot through carrying the ball strong.
“We’re doing it a little bit tough at the moment, but we can actually grow as a team off the back of it.”
Off-season recruit Wesley Bruines could make his St Helens debut after being named on the bench against the Super League leaders. Tee Ritson starts on the wing, while Lewis Baxter is on the bench for his first senior game of the year.
England international Joe Batchelor has also been named for the first time this Super League season in the back-row, having suffered an ankle injury against St George Illawarra Dragons in Australia.
Tommy Makinson and Mark Percival are surprise exclusions, having both been named in the original 21-man squad.
Prop Joe Bullock continues to miss out for Warrington through a thumb injury, although boss Daryl Powell is hopeful of having the Blackpool-born prop back for their fixture with Wakefield.
“Joe Bullock will be (back for) Wakefield I think but we’ll see what he’s like tomorrow,” Powell added.
Long-term absentee Connor Wrench also continues with his rehabilitation, having suffered a season-ending ACL injury last August.
Disciplinary costing
Warrington are without three forwards due to respective suspensions for the clash, while Morgan Knowles continues to serve his ban.
Joe Philbin will serve the last of his two-match suspension, while Paul Vaughan copped a one-match ban during the side’s loss to Wigan last week.
Gil Dudson will miss the game following his five-match ban against Catalans for his punch on opposition winger Tom Johnstone.
It has seen Daryl Clark named at loose, with Josh McGuire moved to starting prop. Josh Thewlis, Peter Mata’utia, Sam Kasiano and Lucas Green make up the bench.
St Helens: Welsby, Ritson, Hurrell, Hopoate, Bennison, Lomax, Dodd, LMS, Roby, Lees, Royle, Batchelor, Bell. Bench: Lussick, Baxter, Delaney, Bruines. 18th: Hill.
Warrington: Dufty, Russell, Minikin, Ratchford, Ashton, Williams, Drinkwater,McGuire, Currie, Nicholson, Clark. Bench: Thewlis, Mata’utia, Kasiano, Green.
READ: Paul Wellens backs St Helens to return to winning ways following ‘alien’ start to season
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